Grace Presbyterian Church
Meeting in the Chapel at Union Congregational Church
Serving people, through Christ, to meet the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of the community and the world around us.
Welcome
Prelude “Come Just As You Are” Joseph Sabolick arr. Mark Hayes
Call to Worship
One: Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness!
All: Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God!
One: It is he who made us, and we are his people; the sheep of his pasture.
All: Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!
One: Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good;
All: His steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Opening Prayer
Hymn 138 * “Holy Holy Holy, Lord God Almighty”
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Lesson (in Unison) Luke 1:37, 45-55
For nothing will be impossible with God.
And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant. Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name; indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has come to the aid of his child Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
Time With Children
Call to Confession
Unison Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought word and deed, by what we have done and what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart, we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. In your mercy, forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Praise Be To God in Song “Gloria Patri”
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen.
Passing of the Peace
Scripture Lesson Exodus 4:31, Exodus 14:31, Jonah 3:5, Luke 1:18-20
Message What I Believe…Matters The Rev. Cynthia Wilcox
Hymn 210 * “Our God Our Help in Ages Past”
Affirmation of Faith * The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
Call to Offering
Offertory “Ye, Who Seek the Truth” Julia Perry
Doxology Lasst Uns Erfreuen
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below;
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Praise him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Pastoral Prayers concluding with The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Hymn 379 * “My Hope is Built”
Announcements and Benediction
Mark your calendars:
Tuesday, May 13, Choir Rehearsal, 7:30 PM in the Chapel at Union Congregational
Wednesday, May 14, Norma’s Bible Study, 10:00 AM, in the Learning Center at Union Congregational
Wednesday, May 14, Exalt Meeting, 7:30 PM online
Daily Devotionals online Monday-Friday 9:00 AM. Check out www.gracemontclair.org for more information.
The next Friends of Grace community dinner is this Sunday, May 18, 5 – 6:30 at St John’s Episcopal. If you can provide salad or an appetizer to feed 30 guests, please let the church office know.
Food for the Little Pantry: Please consider picking up non-perishables on your next grocery trip. Food may be dropped off at the Manse or placed in the basket as you enter or leave the chapel on Sunday.
